English for Academic Purposes

English for Academic and Professional Purposes

• The subject aims to equip students with the English language skills needed for academic and professional contexts.

Do's and Don'ts

• Cellphones should be kept in bags during class hours.
• Maintaining cleanliness is essential.
• Students should be mindful of their absenteeism.

Requirements

• A notebook (white and black) is needed for note-taking.
• Quiz pads for completing quizzes.
• Activities and quizzes are part of the course.
• Exams are a component of the assessment.

Grading System

• Written work accounts for 25% of the grade.
• Performance constitutes 45% of the grade.
• Quarterly assessments hold a weight of 30% of the final grade.
• The total grade is 100%.

Lesson 1: Academic Language

• The language used in various academic disciplines is examined in this lesson.

Nature and Characteristics of an Academic Text

• This section explores the aspects of academic texts.

What is an Academic Text

• It's written language offering information on concepts relevant to a particular discipline.

Examples of Academic Texts

• Essays, Research Papers, Reports, Projects, Articles, Theses, and Dissertations

Structure of Academic Texts

• Academic texts typically comprise three parts: introduction, body, and conclusion (which should be formal and logical).

Tone in Academic Writing

• The tone reflects the author's attitude within the writing.
• Arguments presented should be unbiased and properly acknowledge other viewpoints.

Language in Academic Writing

• Use unambiguous language and clear topic sentences to allow easy understanding.
• Formal language and third-person point of view are appropriate.
• Subject-specific technical language is acceptable.

Citation in Academic Writing

• Citing sources is crucial to avoid plagiarism.
• Citing sources can involve use of footnotes or endnotes.

Complexity in Academic Writing

• Academic texts address complex issues requiring higher-order thinking.

Evidence-Based Writing

• These texts must rest on a thorough understanding of the relevant body of knowledge.
• Debating and discussions, both internal and external to the discipline, are crucial to the reasoning.

Thesis-Driven Writing

• Academic writing is generally driven by a thesis statement.
• This statement provides the foundation and perspective for the research problem.

Features of Academic Texts

• Complexity is a distinguishing characteristic of academic texts. Academic texts:
• Use diverse and sophisticated vocabulary.
• Employ more varied grammar structures, including greater complexity.
• Tend to be concise but comprehensive in conveying arguments.

Additional Features of Academic Writing Style

• Avoiding Conversational or Casual Language
• Avoid colloquial, idiomatic, slang, or journalistic expressions.

Alternative Phrases for common words and phrases

• Using more formal vocabulary.

• Use more precise and accurate words.

• Avoid words such as "a lot," "often," and "the past."

  Use precise synonyms. For example, when describing something as "a lot" of people, you have better alternatives that provide more precise quantitative detail or eliminate ambiguity.

Purpose in Reading an Academic Text

• Locate a main idea.
• Scan for information.
• Identify gaps in existing studies.
• Connect new ideas to existing ideas.
• Gain more pieces of information.
• Support a particular writing assignment.
• Deeply understand an existing idea.

Factors to consider in writing Academic Texts

• State critical questions and issues.
• Provide facts and evidence from credible sources.
• Use precise and accurate wording with a clear objective point of view, avoiding jargon.
• List references.
• Use cautious language when framing arguments or expressing opinions.

Academic Language

• Academic language is the language needed to complete academic assignments.
• This includes discipline-specific vocabulary, grammar, punctuation, and applications of rhetorical conventions and devices.

Social Language

• Social language is the everyday language used in communication.

Characteristics of Academic Language

• Formal language is essential.
• Avoid casual and conversational styles.
• Use a variety of words and terms instead of using repeated words or phrases.
• Be objective rather than subjective.
• Use impersonal writing style like avoid using the pronouns I or We.